carrier
/ˈkæriə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkæriər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈker-ē-ər ˈka-rē-/ (ame, mw)
carrier — noun
1. a person, company, or device that moves people, goods, or messages from one plac
a person, company, or device that moves people, goods, or messages from one place to another — for example, a postal worker delivering letters or a luggage rack on a bicycle.
The postal carrier delivers mail to our street every morning before nine.
postal carrier = mail-delivery worker
A luggage carrier on the bus held all the travelers' suitcases during the trip.
luggage carrier = rack for bags
Our company hired a freight carrier to ship the furniture across the country.
The bike carrier strapped onto the back of the car held two bicycles securely.
When the package arrived, the carrier had left it by the front door.
- transporter
more formal and usually refers to a vehicle or company, not a person
- haulier
British English, specifically for goods transported by road
- bearer
formal, usually for documents, messages, or titles, not goods
- recipient
a person who receives what the carrier delivers
用法筆記
Frequently used in compound nouns such as mail carrier, luggage carrier, and freight carrier. The first word specifies what is being carried.
常見錯誤
2. a company that moves passengers or goods from place to place, especially an airl
a company that moves passengers or goods from place to place, especially an airline that operates flights between cities or countries.
Low-cost carriers offer cheaper tickets by reducing in-flight services.
low-cost carrier = budget airline
The carrier announced new direct flights between Taipei and Osaka starting next month.
Many travelers prefer a full-service carrier that includes meals and checked bags.
The shipping carrier lost two packages during the holiday rush last December.
Is your preferred carrier flying to London via a stop in Dubai?
用法筆記
Commonly modified by adjectives such as low-cost, budget, full-service, or flag (flag carrier = nationally owned airline). Often refers to airlines but also works for shipping and rail companies.
常見錯誤
3. a large vehicle, ship, or aircraft that the military uses to transport soldiers,
a large vehicle, ship, or aircraft that the military uses to transport soldiers, tanks, or equipment to where they are needed.
The army sent an armored personnel carrier to bring the soldiers safely to the base.
armored personnel carrier = troop transport vehicle
A troop carrier landed on the beach and unloaded a dozen soldiers.
troop carrier = ship or vehicle for soldiers
The navy uses a helicopter carrier to transport aircraft and marines overseas.
During the exercise, heavy equipment carriers moved tanks across the river.
The general ordered a carrier to transport the wounded soldiers to the field hospital.
- transport
shorter form used in military contexts (e.g. 'troop transport')
- transporter
more general; not limited to military vehicles
用法筆記
Almost always appears as part of a compound noun such as troop carrier, personnel carrier, or helicopter carrier. The compound tells you what the vehicle transports.
常見錯誤
4. an informal, shortened way of referring to an aircraft carrier — a large warship
an informal, shortened way of referring to an aircraft carrier — a large warship with a flat deck where military planes can take off and land.
The carrier sailed into the harbor with fifty fighter jets on its deck.
carrier (informal) = aircraft carrier
Pilots train for months before they can land on a moving carrier at sea.
Three navy carriers took part in the joint military exercise last spring.
The crew on the carrier worked through the night to prepare jets for the mission.
- aircraft carrier
the full, formal term; use this in formal writing
- warship
broader category that includes carriers, destroyers, and battleships
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 3 (MILITARY VEHICLE): sense 3 refers to vehicles that carry troops or equipment on land or sea, while this sense refers specifically to the aircraft carrier warship. Context like harbor, pilot, deck, or navy makes the meaning clear.
常見錯誤
5. a business that sells mobile phone and internet access to customers, letting the
a business that sells mobile phone and internet access to customers, letting them make calls, send texts, and go online.
My carrier sent a text message warning me that I was almost out of data.
carrier = mobile network provider
Priya switched to a different carrier because the coverage in her area was poor.
The carrier offers a family plan with four lines for a fixed monthly fee.
When you buy a phone from the carrier, it is usually locked to that network.
The internet carrier restored service after the storm damaged the cables.
用法筆記
Commonly called a 'network carrier' or 'mobile carrier' in business contexts. Customers 'switch carriers' when changing providers. A phone 'locked to a carrier' can only use that provider's SIM card.
常見錯誤
6. a bag made of paper or plastic, fitted with two handles, that stores give out so
a bag made of paper or plastic, fitted with two handles, that stores give out so customers can carry away what they have bought.
The shop assistant put the books into a sturdy paper carrier with a logo.
paper carrier = paper shopping bag
Plastic carriers are no longer free at many supermarkets in Taiwan.
Leila packed her groceries into two plastic carriers and walked home.
The handles on the carrier broke, and all the fruit rolled onto the street.
Aiko keeps a foldable carrier in her backpack for unexpected shopping trips.
- carrier bag
British English term; interchangeable with 'carrier'
- shopping bag
more common in American English
- tote bag
usually a stronger fabric bag, often reusable
用法筆記
Most common in British English. In American English, 'shopping bag' or 'paper bag' is more typical. Often called a 'carrier bag' in the UK.
7. an individual — human or animal — who carries a disease or a genetic condition i
an individual — human or animal — who carries a disease or a genetic condition inside their body and can transmit it to others, often without feeling ill or showing signs.
A carrier of the flu virus can infect others before feeling sick themselves.
carrier of the flu virus = asymptomatic transmitter
Genetic tests showed that Priya is a carrier of the sickle cell trait.
carrier of the sickle cell trait = genetic carrier
Mosquitoes are carriers of malaria and can spread the disease through bites.
The cat was a silent carrier and passed the infection to the other pets.
When both parents are carriers, the child may inherit the condition.
- transmitter
focuses on the act of passing something on, not the state of carrying
- vector
specifically an organism (like a mosquito) that carries and transmits a pathogen
- asymptomatic carrier
medical term for a carrier who shows no symptoms
- patient
someone who shows symptoms of the disease
- immune person
someone who cannot contract or transmit the disease
用法筆記
In medicine, a distinction exists between 'asymptomatic carrier' (has the infection but no symptoms) and 'genetic carrier' (has a recessive gene that may be passed to offspring). The word implies the potential to transmit, not necessarily that transmission occurs.